Witches, ghosts and goblins were not the only ones on hand to usher in the Halloween season yesterday. In fact, they were in the minority as muppets, clowns, small Phillie phanatics, soldiers, cowboys, Indians, pirates, and children representing a wide variety of other professions and things marched down Broad and Main streets in the 64th annual Bethlehem Halloween parade.

Led by Grand Marshal Ray Huston, the former director of the East Hills Middle School, and accompanied by the sounds of a more than a dozen bands, 20 groups of children of all ages, 11 floats, the Phillie Phanatic and Santa Claus brought smiles to the faces of the children and parents who began to gather alongside the streets several hours before the 2 p.m. start of the parade.

A festive atmosphere prevailed as lawn chairs and picnic blankets lined the streets and vendors wandered up and down selling such summer, fair-like staples as cotton candy, popcorn and helium balloons.

Parade emcee Frank Kovacs attributed the success of the atmosphere and parade to good weather - "It didn't dare rain" - and to the addition of a Halloween Parade Ball as a kick-off. "After the success of the ball Friday night, we knew we were going to have a good day and a good parade," Kovacs said.

He added that the participation of about 3,500 people enabled this year's parade to be "bigger and better" than last year's. No official estimate of spectator numbers was available.

"The floats were very impressive," Kovacs said. They included the first- place float "Spirit of America," a re-creation of a red, white and blue plane preceded by a very young Uncle Sam; a second-place float by Boy Scout Troop No. 103 that asked the crowd, "Is your life dragon on?" and featuring a moving, mechanical dragon; a third-place float by Cub Pack No. 304; the fourth place "Baby Drack in the Pumpkin Patch," which featured a young vampire sitting in the middle of a large pumpkin, and a circus train float by Boy Scout Pack No. 331, which puffed its way down Main Street spewing steam.

"All the participants were impressive," Kovacs said. "It shows that the Halloween spirit is alive and well."

No where was spirit more noticeable than in the school children who showed both Halloween spirit in their various costumes, and school spirit as they marched by proudly naming their schools.

The first-place plaque for the school division went to Thomas Jefferson School whose students all dressed as miniature Phillie Phanatics. Calypso School took second place, while the students of SS. Cyril and Methodius School, dressed as various Sesame Street and muppet characters earned the third place plaque.

The Mayor's Trophy, given to the most outstanding school, went to the William Penn School, whose students wore posters supporting the Liberty Bell, the Statue of Liberty and striving for excellence. Donegan Elementary School and St. Anne's School were awarded the Committee and Chairman's awards respectively.

Other marching groups contributed greatly to the Halloween spirit as well.

Marching to the music of accordians, the members of The Portuguese American Club, clad in ethnic dress, captured first place in the marching group division. They were followed by the Sacred Heart cheerleaders, who cheerfully said "hi" to the judges after declaring that Sacred Heart was their name.

The "Christmas City Angels" from Melanie Wagner's Academy of Baton and Dance, showed spirit of another season in their red and green costumes to capture third place in the division.

Entertainment was also present in the special category, which included a variety acts who hammed it up and provoked laughter all along the 1.5-mile route. Robert Schantz as a crazed monster, broke loose from the confines of his cage while directly in front of the judges' stand. Following a chase, he was captured by two Keystone cop-type characters and together, they captured first prize.

Doug Bitting, the second-place winner, was also accompanied by two law enforcement officers, this time secret service men, for Bitting was assuming the role of President Reagan. The third place winner of the special category, Clowning Around, did just that.

Winners in the individual category were Minnie Mouse, Frosty the Snowman and West Broad Street's last stand, in which residents of the road, including dogs, dressed up as cowboys and Indians and rode cardboard horses.

Bands were not considered in the judging, which was done by 24 judges selected by the Halloween Parade Committee. According to committee member Nicholas Kordopatis, the judges come "from all walks of life" and signify "a broad cross section of the population."